The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-09
RAVAGES OF THE FLOOD.
ITS DISASTROUS WORK AMONG
THE RICE PLANTATIONS.

Stem the Flow are Futile - Thou
sands of Acres Under Water The
River Still Rising An Estimate OF
the Loss.
The apprehensions of the Savannah rice
planters in regard TO the flooding of their
plantations on the Savannah river above the
city seem to have been well founded. The
reports late last night, as far as could be
colroborated, all were to the effect that fully
sevcn-eighths of the rice fields in that Sec
ton would be submerged, resulting in di-
rect loss to the planters of from 100000 70
S300.O0O
The reports of the high water at Augusta
last week first aroused the fears of the rice
planters. but nothing serious was anticipated,
as the river soon fell from its 35-foot level
to 2S feet But hardly had this report
Quoted their appreheLsions when the second
food came upon an overlooking river, rising
some six feet and pouring out upon
the submerged country vast volume of
water. Many even then thought that the
stretch of marshes and swamps bordering
on the river would take up good portion
of this huge outpouring, and that by the
time the rice fields, eight or ten miles above
the city. We're reached the water would be
reduced TO its normal state.
But Saturdays reports changed their
ideas on the subject, and all day Sunday
large number of men were employed at the
public and private freshet banks At night,
when work was suspended, they were well
satisfied that the banks would stand, as
there were no indications of any rise III the
river.
RUMORS OF DISASTERS.
Yesterday all sorts Of rumors were cur
I 4 4 H.. N.,1l -
all united on one point, and that was the
dangerous height OF the water. At noon it
was reported that the freshet bank was
broken and that the Bennett place was
ovelhowed A ,'Olored man came down to
the city to telegraph to Mr.. Alfred CHS
holm. who has charge of the
place, the state of affairs. Most
at the scene of danger yesterday, fighting
the oncoming waters, and very little could
be learned of the situation. The steamer
Katie came down about D O'clock i'll the af
ternoon, and NEWS reporter was on hand
TO secure the latest data regarding floods,
which rumor said were increasing in vol
ume Nothing could be learned save the
general fact that Argyle Island was over
flowed, and they thought the freshet bank
was broken, as the waters seemed to extend
a vast distance out on the South Carolina
side.
A BREAK DISCOVERED.
At $50 the first reliable news was secured
from Mr. j. A. Huger, who had just re-
turned from the scene of destruction From
him the following account of the flood and
the devastation caused by il was obtained:
Early Yesterday morning as the men and
overseer were on their way to the banks to
resume work if needed they were astonshed
10 find water crossing the road in Mr. &. IL.
Williams place The small stream first OBJ
served swelled rapidly, and soon
the fields were flooded and they were
in water up to the saddle girths of their
horses. Upon examination a big break was
discovered in the freshet bank, forty feet or
more wide, through which the water was
rushing with terrible force. Efforts were
made to repair it, but in vain, and the break
only grew larger.
VAST SHEETS oE WATER.
The waters secured out the earth, en-
larging its outlet, and the food poured out
to its destructive work. The plantation
was rapidly covered, and as the water rose
in height the rice plantations resembled
large inland sea. At 10 o'clock the water
had risen to the top of the freshet bank, and
was pouring over il in one vast sheet. 1t
rushed over the field in a resistleSs flood,
overwhelming everything in its course.
The outlook last evening, when Mr.. Huger
left, was disheartening in the extreme. For
miles all was one sheet of seething, boiling
water, covering the rice entirely from view,
rushing over the freshet bank, the waters
spread over all the plantations on the Geor
gia side near Argyle Island, submerged all
the plantations on the island save Mr..
Gibbons, all the fields on the Carolina
side and was advancing rapidly toward
those plantations nearer the city.
THOUSANDS OF ACRES.
In reply to an inquiry, Mr.. Huger said he
thought there were some 9, 800 acres in rice
on the river near this city, and of this he
estimated that 800 would be submerged
by this morning. OF the plantations that
would be covered, the following is given as
partial list: H. Lyman, 450 acres;
B. H. Hayward, $50: c. II. Williams,
400; Henry Taylor, $50, B. H. Hayward,
80; Joseph Clay, 400; j. A. Huger, Jr., 500;
Bennett, of Charleston, in charge of Mr..
Alfred Chisholm, $50; j. A. Huger, Jr, 375 !;
lizard, $50; Joseph ManigauIt, 275; Louis
Haskell, two places, 500; Thomas F. Screven,
$50: Woodward Barnard, $50; John Screven
450, and the four large plantations on
Argyle Island belonging to James B. Hey
ward. Mr.. Potter Mr.. Van r. Winkler, be-
sides other plantations on the main land.
WHAT TUE LOSS WILL BE.
Mr.. Huger thought that the plantations of
Robert Routledge, Mills and Taylor, on the
Manigault's, on Pennyworth Island, would
not be covered ut is hard to say,
he added, las the water is rising
where it will stop. An immense amount OF
water is coming down, and the damage, |
am afraid, win mount away up. If to-
nights Mondays food tide is extra high,
thus forcing back the food, it may result
still more disastrously to u.s. This is the
highest freshet | remember ever seeing, and
an August flood is something new to us. No
one knows what the effect will be on
the rice, as the grain is just maturing and
it Is impossible TO make any close estimate
Of the damage. 1900 acres would produce
some 800, 900 bushels of rice, at forty bush
els per acre, fair average. This at 81 10
per bushel would amount to $3.50, 900. Now
as for the per ceutage of damage TO the
grain by the water hardly know, but it
certainly would be go to a. per cent, max
ing loss of SlS0,000 to 3d., 900, to say
nothing of the heavy repairs to
TO be made 10 embankInents, etc don't
even expect TO save enough for seed, TO say
nothing Of selling any"
ALL OF ONE OPINION.
what 90 the other planters sayg' was
asked
"'fhey all are Of pretty much the same
mind as myself said Mr.. Huger. "Of
course some look on the bright side
of the matter and think the dam
age will he light. But the greater